I don't think it's altogether true that all the crime is clustered on the north side. The Mill Creek Tavern on 42nd and Chester, which also attracts Penn and USP students, has had its share of shootings as well. I have heard, though do not know whether it is true, that UCD has cut back on security patrols under the new cost-saving regime, and police protection also seems to have diminished in the past few years. Perhaps it's due to the exit of Judith Rodin, who was very invested in making the West Philadelphia area vital and safe, as Penn turns its sights to the East.

As a parent of an Alum and current student I always appreciated that my young adults were learning how to navigate in an urban environment. I always accepted the fact that there would be some crime but that my children would be better adults because of this fact. But during the last two or three years I have observed a deteriorating condition of Ucity and I have not been impressed by Maureen Rush. Although I believe many of the posters to the DP are disgruntled employees I am now starting to believe that there is some truth to her incompetence. For example, it is a well known fact that the north of campus is dicey at best and she is now going to work with owners of clubs and other establishments in that area. Why is the patrol force concentrated in the center of campus when all of the robberies and shootings occur to the north and west. Rush runs the department like a dog chasing its tail. Isn't there a chief of police? Where is he/she? There is obviously no proactive measures underway until there is a major incident. When will President Gutmann make a change? It is just time. I know that people who think they are smarter will attack me on this thread but I just wanted to express my frustration and I appreciate the DP providing this forum to do so.

It is not entirely true that "all of the robberies and shootings occur to the north and west". I can think of two incidents from just this year in which people got robbed right on Locust Walk, and at times like 11am and 4pm. One last year outside of Van Pelt even involved a sawed-off shotgun. Of course these incidents occur with less frequency here than they do on the outskirts of campus, but (in my opinion) they are more alarming, in the middle of campus in broad daylight, ESPECIALLY if this is where Maureen claims to have the heaviest deployment. [QUOTE id="9b2cd365-7f0f-4f8e-8e73-bbcd339f3202"]As a parent of an Alum and current student I always appreciated that my young adults were learning how to navigate in an urban environment. I always accepted the fact that there would be some crime but that my children would be better adults because of this fact. But during the last two or three years I have observed a deteriorating condition of Ucity and I have not been impressed by Maureen Rush. Although I believe many of the posters to the DP are disgruntled employees I am now starting to believe that there is some truth to her incompetence. For example, it is a well known fact that the north of campus is dicey at best and she is now going to work with owners of clubs and other establishments in that area. Why is the patrol force concentrated in the center of campus when all of the robberies and shootings occur to the north and west. Rush runs the department like a dog chasing its tail. Isn't there a chief of police? Where is he/she? There is obviously no proactive measures underway until there is a major incident. When will President Gutmann make a change? It is just time. I know that people who think they are smarter will attack me on this thread but I just wanted to express my frustration and I appreciate the DP providing this forum to do so.[/QUOTE]

The logic of DPS (and even the Philly PD!) really escapes. More foot traffic causes an increase in crime? Sure maybe in the absolute sense: I doubt there's a lot of robberies in Cheyenne, WY. But in a large city like Philly, we already have the level of density built in to cause crime. No increase or decrease in student populations in any region of campus will change that. Instead, a secondary effect weighs in more. More people = more witnesses. When you have greater foot traffic in a dense city, crime will go down. Compare 34th and Chestnut to 30th and Chestnut. Where would you rather be at 11pm? Walker himself even said that crime was dropping south and west of campus -- I wonder why that is Lieutenant? Could it be the shifting of the Penn campus westward that has occurred over the last decade? Could it be the much greater foot traffic west of 40th than even a few years ago? Seriously, crime is not increasing north of campus because more Quakers are living in HamCo and Chestnut Hall -- crime is increasing (relatively) there as crime drops elsewhere. It's partially a perception thing, and partially the fact that there's not enough foot traffic. More people living off campus would drive this down.

Penn Police were very sensitive to my needs as a parent when I called to find out more. Worried, as any caring parent would naturally be, they called my son themselves to make sure he was ok, when I could not make contact. He lives at 39th and Chestnut. Thank you to the security and Penn Police for continuing to be pleasant and caring at a time of increased concern for safety of all of our children